Fort DrumNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Fort DrumSat, 12 Nov 2016 09:17:40 +0000Fort Drumhttp://wrvo.org
Julia Botero The viewers of Channel 7 evening news in Watertown will soon say goodbye to a familiar face on television. For 20 years, WWNY-TV anchor Brian Ashley has delivered the evening news every weeknight. Ashley is moving on to join the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization as its new leader. Ashley began his broadcast career in radio while living across the border in Canada, where he's from originally. He moved onto TV in 1994 to host the evening news on Channel 7 alongside his wife, Ann Richter. Ashley said he's grateful for all the viewers who've tuned in throughout the years. "It's a relationship. It's just not me delivering the news, it's us having a conversation every night with my wife Ann. We just want them to know what's going on. Our signature sign off for the past twenty years has been 'Thanks for making us part of your world tonight.'" Ashley said he'll still be relaying information to the community in his new role as leader of the Fort Drum Liaison Organization, a group thatWatertown TV Anchor Brian Ashley to lead Fort Drum Liaison Organizationhttp://wrvo.org/post/watertown-tv-anchor-brian-ashley-lead-fort-drum-liaison-organization
95906 as http://wrvo.orgFri, 11 Nov 2016 09:34:00 +0000Watertown TV Anchor Brian Ashley to lead Fort Drum Liaison OrganizationJulia BoteroFamilies in the military move a lot. On average, a military child will change schools six to nine times before they finish high school. Making new friends and leaving old ones is hard on kids. Enter Sesame Street. Elmo, Cookie Monster and friends are traveling to military basis across the country to help young kids cope with a big move.Children at Fort Drum meet Sesame Street's Katie, a military kid like themhttp://wrvo.org/post/children-fort-drum-meet-sesame-streets-katie-military-kid-them
95227 as http://wrvo.orgSat, 29 Oct 2016 12:15:00 +0000Children at Fort Drum meet Sesame Street's Katie, a military kid like themJulia Botero After a decade of lobbying state and federal officials on behalf of Fort Drum, Carl McLaughlin, has announced his retirement. McLaughlin began his work as head of the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization, or FDRLO, in 2004. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were just beginning. Fort Drum was under threat of shutting down in a round of base closures. McLaughlin got news in his first week on the job from the Pentagon about the base’s 10th Mountain Division. “They announced we’d be forming a third brigade that would be homebased at Fort Drum and a forth brigade that would be homebased at Fort Polk,” said McLaughlin. Fort Drum was about to grow, big time, by as many as 10,000. “No sooner was it announced, literally at the end of the month in Lay then new soldiers started to arrive.” McLaughlin and the whole team at FDRLO scrambled to find places to house the soldiers and their families. Schools expanded classrooms and hospitals hired more staff. But as the wars in Iraq and AfghanistanCarl McLaughlin retires after decade of connecting community with Fort Drumhttp://wrvo.org/post/carl-mclaughlin-retires-after-decade-connecting-community-fort-drum
92406 as http://wrvo.orgMon, 15 Aug 2016 08:59:00 +0000Carl McLaughlin retires after decade of connecting community with Fort DrumJulia BoteroA monument that celebrates Fort Drum’s relationship with its surrounding community was revealed at a ceremony in Watertown’s Thompson Park on Friday. The four-sided granite monument depicts the 10th Mountain Division's history starting with World War II and ending in its missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tom Doosin, an Air Force veteran who lives in Henderson, next to Lake Ontario, was there. “I’m somewhat emotional about it and I’ll probably spend my most patriotic Independence Day weekend reflecting on what’s really important. This wonderful country we have and all the people who have ensured our stability and served our country,” Doosin said. Al Soria is a veteran of the 10th Mountain Division. He was part of the ski troops who fought the Germans in the Italian Alps during World War II. “I was born in Italy and I came to the United States when I was 15 years old. I always wanted to join the ski troopers and I did and I always proud I was able to liberate my home country from the10th Mountain Division monument in Watertown evokes pride, tearshttp://wrvo.org/post/10th-mountain-division-monument-watertown-evokes-pride-tears
90521 as http://wrvo.orgMon, 04 Jul 2016 09:00:00 +000010th Mountain Division monument in Watertown evokes pride, tearsJulia Botero If you’ve ever wondered what happens at a place full of huge missiles, Nathaniel Gill with the Missile Defense Agency said on the outside it’s pretty quiet, but indoors computers pick up signals from everything being launched into the air all over the world. If a threat was on its way to the U.S., a ballistic missile kept underground will shoot into the air. Study finds Fort Drum missile defense site brings jobs, hurts endangered bathttp://wrvo.org/post/study-finds-fort-drum-missile-defense-site-brings-jobs-hurts-endangered-bat
90440 as http://wrvo.orgFri, 01 Jul 2016 08:42:00 +0000Study finds Fort Drum missile defense site brings jobs, hurts endangered batJulia Botero A bill that will make it easier for military spouses to start working immediately after moving to the state is about to become law. New York is the only state that requires military spouses to re-apply for their professional license after arriving here. Sponsored by state Sen. Patty Ritchie (R-Oswegatchie), the bill will accelerate the application process for spouses who hold a professional license in another state. This could be anyone from a nurse, to a social worker, even someone who wants to cut hair. You need a license issued by New York State to practice over 40 different of professions. Ritchie said she wrote up this bill at the request of Fort Drum families. "If you are a soldier and you come to the post and your spouse comes with you, when they send in to get their license in New York state they are treated like someone who is getting their license for the first time," Ritchie said. That means a long wait –- months or even a year -- before that spouse is allowed to startNew bill helps military spouses get back to work after a movehttp://wrvo.org/post/new-bill-helps-military-spouses-get-back-work-after-move
89324 as http://wrvo.orgMon, 06 Jun 2016 08:35:00 +0000New bill helps military spouses get back to work after a moveJulia Botero River Hospital in Alexandria Bay has one of the prettiest locations of all hospitals in the North Country. It overlooks the St. Lawrence River in the heart of the Thousand Islands. More than a decade ago, the hospital was in danger of closing for lack of funds, but hospital leaders, with help from the community, turned things around. Last week, River Hospital announced a $7 million plan to expand. According to CEO Ben Moore, ever since the hospital started adding new services in 2006, staff felt like they were slowly running out of room to do their jobs. For eight years, River Hospital's primary care offices have operated out of five trailers outside the main building. Moore said expanding the hospital has been on everyone's mind for a long time. "We think this will be something that will really help the efficiency of our operations especially getting out of the trailers and into a well-planned space for patient care," Moore said. A new three-story building will house both primaryRiver Hospital announces $7.5 million expansionhttp://wrvo.org/post/river-hospital-announces-75-million-expansion
89223 as http://wrvo.orgThu, 02 Jun 2016 08:34:00 +0000River Hospital announces $7.5 million expansionJulia BoteroAt the start of World War II, Fort Drum expanded. Five villages and 360 farms became part of the base’s training lands. Even the village cemeteries became Army property. Every Memorial Day, training stops on Fort Drum and descendants of those farm families can visit the graves of their loved ones buried there. Families from lost villages around Fort Drum pay their respects on Memorial Dayhttp://wrvo.org/post/families-lost-villages-around-fort-drum-pay-their-respects-memorial-day
89144 as http://wrvo.orgMon, 30 May 2016 09:00:06 +0000Families from lost villages around Fort Drum pay their respects on Memorial DayPayne Horning At a rally in Watertown Saturday, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump touched on his familiar campaign promises to secure the borders and boost military funding. Trump told an enthusiastic crowd that the flow of heroin and other illegal drugs into the country would end with his proposed wall along the Mexican border. Under his administration, Trump said Watertown will get jobs back and heroin out. “We’re going to close up our borders," Trump said. "People are coming into the country, but they come in legally. You have a big drug problem, a big heroin problem. We’re going to end it, folks. We’re going to end it.” While pointing at a Fort Drum soldier, Trump said the military has been decimated under President Barack Obama and that he would build it to record levels. “We’re going to make it bigger, better and stronger than ever before," Trump said. "Nobody’s going to mess with us and we’re going to take care of our veterans because our veterans have been absolutely treatedTrump pledges to boost military, reduce heroin at Watertown rallyhttp://wrvo.org/post/trump-pledges-boost-military-reduce-heroin-watertown-rally
87347 as http://wrvo.orgMon, 18 Apr 2016 07:16:00 +0000Trump pledges to boost military, reduce heroin at Watertown rallyJulia BoteroThe remaining soldiers on lockdown at Fort Drum were allowed to go home Thursday evening for the first time in almost a week. Post officials had barred over 500 soldiers from leaving their offices on Friday evening when an inventory revealed a piece of Army equipment was missing. The night vision device still hasn’t been found. Military police will continue their investigation into exactly when the combat and training item disappeared. It’s worth between $2,000 and $3,000 dollars. The 4th Battalion, 31st infantry regiment, last responsible for the night vision device, returned from Afghanistan in early February. Fort Drum officials let 'Polar Bears' go homehttp://wrvo.org/post/fort-drum-officials-let-polar-bears-go-home
85325 as http://wrvo.orgThu, 03 Mar 2016 22:00:27 +0000Fort Drum officials let 'Polar Bears' go homeJulia Botero More than a hundred Fort Drum soldiers have been barred from going home since Friday when a post official discovered a piece of Army equipment was missing. Soldiers have been kept on post for six days now. The missing item is a night vision device used in combat and training missions. Its worth between $2,000 and $3,000. Julie Halpin, a spokesperson with Fort Drum, says military police are looking into when and how it disappeared. “Each soldier gets things that they are responsible for – their helmet, their vest and their uniform- all these things that are on their personal hand receipt. But there are things that are used in training and combat that are not signed for by and individual. They’re signed for by a company commander for use by [multiple] soldiers.” On Friday, military police put 500 soldiers on lock down but they've narrowed their investigation to 130 soldiers and let the rest go home. Meanwhile, soldiers are working like normal but they can't leave. Instead they're eatingFort Drum 'Polar Bears' continue into 6th day on lockdownhttp://wrvo.org/post/fort-drum-polar-bears-continue-6th-day-lockdown
85289 as http://wrvo.orgThu, 03 Mar 2016 09:16:00 +0000Fort Drum 'Polar Bears' continue into 6th day on lockdownJulia Botero There’s a glut of housing in towns surrounding Fort Drum. With thousands of troops deployed, many houses and apartment complexes in the area are empty, including the homes on base. Now, housing on Fort Drum is available to all civilians, even those who don’t work on post. Anyone who passes a background check is welcomed to rent a home on Fort Drum. Joe McLaughlin is working on his sales pitch. For a thousand dollars a month, he says you can get a 2-bedroom house with an attached garage, electricity and heat included. “Any civilian who moves on base might get the chance to meet a real live soldier,” McLaughlin said. Mclauglin is with Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes, the company that runs and operates all the housing on post. He says welcoming civilian to live on Fort Drum is purely a business decision. “If your apartments aren’t full you don’t have the revenue you need to run the day to day operations,” he said. McLaughlin needs people to live in these houses on post to help pay forLooking for a new home? Fort Drum invites civilians to live on basehttp://wrvo.org/post/looking-new-home-fort-drum-invites-civilians-live-base
84639 as http://wrvo.orgThu, 18 Feb 2016 09:15:00 +0000Looking for a new home? Fort Drum invites civilians to live on baseJulia BoteroA report put out by Fort Drum quantifies how much of an impact the base has on the North Country's economy. Based on military figures, the study says the base pumped more than $1.6 billion into Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties last year. Fort Drum is Northern New York's largest single-site employer. More than 15,000 soldiers and close to 4,000 civilians work there. The payroll alone is more than a billion dollars. These numbers may sound staggering but last year Fort Drum pumped even more money into the local economy. The total amount is slightly smaller this year. Carl McLaughlin with the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization says this is because there are fewer soldiers now at Fort Drum. “We’ve been declining and I’ve been waiting for us to get to that lower level and we finally hit it -- 2015. We are in a stable position here for at least the next two years,” he said. McLaughlin says despite Army downsizing, Fort Drum’s still contributing huge amounts of money into theFort Drum boosted North Country economy by $1.6 billion last yearhttp://wrvo.org/post/fort-drum-boosted-north-country-economy-16-billion-last-year
84348 as http://wrvo.orgThu, 11 Feb 2016 09:09:00 +0000Fort Drum boosted North Country economy by $1.6 billion last yearJulia Botero Women are now allowed to enter all combat roles in the military. Some top military brass say they believe all women should now be required to register for the draft, just like men are required to do within 30 days after they turn eighteen. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) says she’s okay with that. The U.S. has had an all-volunteer Army for more than 40 years. Gillibrand, who sits on the Armed Services Committee in Congress, said Monday her goal is to make sure it stays that way. “We don’t need a draft today and we hopefully will never need a draft again. But if we do have one, yes, women should be eligible for Selective Service and it should be done on skill-sets and what types of missions all troops are assigned to,” Gillibrand said. The issue came up in a Senate committee meeting last week, according to the New York Times. GOP presidential candidates were also asked their opinions on the matter last Saturday for the first time during a Republican primary debate. The ObamaGillibrand: Women should register for drafthttp://wrvo.org/post/gillibrand-women-should-register-draft
84239 as http://wrvo.orgTue, 09 Feb 2016 09:14:00 +0000Gillibrand: Women should register for draftJulia Botero Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced Wednesday the omnibus spending bill currently in Congress includes $19 million for Fort Drum. The federal funds included in the spending bill will go towards building a state-of-the-art NCO training academy on base. The academy will include classrooms, a running track, offices and barracks. Enlisted soldiers looking to advance their careers will use the academy to learn the basics of leadership and communication. The Department of Defense included the money for the new facility in a defense budget drafted back in February. The Department says Fort Drum’s current training facilities, in use during World War II, are old and expensive to maintain. According to the Department of Defense, the new facility will serves as a model for bases across the country. The $1.1 trillion spending bill proposed in Congress will fund the federal government through September of next year. Congress must bass the spending bill to avoid aFort Drum likely to recieve $19 million for new training academyhttp://wrvo.org/post/fort-drum-likely-recieve-19-million-new-training-academy
82069 as http://wrvo.orgThu, 17 Dec 2015 08:49:00 +0000Fort Drum likely to recieve $19 million for new training academyJulia Botero More than 4,000 Fort Drum troops are on missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places around the world. We’ve heard a lot about the soldiers, but less about their families. As deployments continue, families feel new pressures http://wrvo.org/post/deployments-continue-families-feel-new-pressures
80357 as http://wrvo.orgMon, 09 Nov 2015 09:00:00 +0000As deployments continue, families feel new pressures Julia Botero President Barack Obama announced his decision Thursday to delay the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. This is a big departure from Obama’s original plan to remove almost all troops by the end of his presidency. But, Fort Drum's commanding general says he isn’t surprised by the news.Decision to delay U.S. troop withdrawal means Fort Drum soldiers won't come home earlyhttp://wrvo.org/post/decision-delay-us-troop-withdrawal-means-fort-drum-soldiers-wont-come-home-early
79335 as http://wrvo.orgFri, 16 Oct 2015 08:05:00 +0000Decision to delay U.S. troop withdrawal means Fort Drum soldiers won't come home earlyJulia Botero State Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan toured Fort Drum Wednesday for the first time since becoming a state lawmaker in 2002. Flanagan was elected Senate majority leader in May when former leader Dean Skelos resigned due to his arrest on federal corruption charges. Flanagan's visit was part of a day-long tour of the North Country. Flanagan, a Republican from Long Island, stands in a suit and tie, his hands politely clasped in front of him. On the floor, pairs of medics in full army gear rip the shirt off a mannequin next to them and start building a tourniquet. The room is dark and smoky, meant to replicate a battlefield. The Army medics yell instructions as Flanagan and a small group of local lawmakers watch. Then, a uniformed soldier opens a door letting in bits of blinding sunshine. “I wanted to give you a chance to see what these guys are doing in action. So if everyone wants to come out here, I'll get you a chance to talk to these guys in a second, " Flanagan said. Outside onNY Senate Majority Leader Flanagan visits Fort Drum for the first timehttp://wrvo.org/post/ny-senate-majority-leader-flanagan-visits-fort-drum-first-time
78325 as http://wrvo.orgThu, 24 Sep 2015 08:15:00 +0000NY Senate Majority Leader Flanagan visits Fort Drum for the first timeJulia Botero A Fort Drum soldier died Monday in Bagram, Afghanistan. Specialist Kyle Gilbert of Buford Georgia was 24.This is the first death of a Fort Drum soldier in this latest cycle of deployments. Combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan came to a close at the end of last year. This summer, Fort Drum soldiers began deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan this time to train and advise Afghan and Iraqi forces.Gilbert died of a non-combat related injury. The Department of Defense says they're investigating the incident that led to his injury.In a press release, Fort Drum officials say Gilbert joined the Army in April of 2013 as an infantryman. He arrived at Fort Drum a few months later. This June, he deployed with the 2nd Brigade Combat team to Afghanistan.Gilbert is the recipient of several awards for this service. He is survived by his mother, father, step-mother and brother.Lt. Col. Michael Kovacevic, says Gilbert's family is in the battalion's continued thoughts and prayers. Fort Drum soldier killed in Afghanistanhttp://wrvo.org/post/fort-drum-soldier-killed-afghanistan
78264 as http://wrvo.orgWed, 23 Sep 2015 08:07:00 +0000Fort Drum soldier killed in AfghanistanJulia Botero If you’re looking to rent or buy a home near Fort Drum, now would be a good time. Apartment complexes in surrounding towns are offering special deals in hopes of filling empty units. Recent deployments at Fort Drum has help create an abundance of housing. The Ontario Village Apartments in Watertown is advertising free first and last month’s rent for new tenants. The Truscott Terrace apartment complex has opened up its units to civilian families for the first time in thirty years. William Leepy runs the real estate company Northern New York Homes. He says he’s definitely felt a change in the market recently. “If you build all the extra rental communities and what not, of course you’re going to lose some sales out of the real estate market. I think homeowners are going to have to work a little bit extra harder to get things sold as easily as you would two or three years ago," Leepy said. Decades ago, as Fort Drum expanded, housing for soldiers who wanted to live off base was hard toFort Drum deployments create open housing markethttp://wrvo.org/post/fort-drum-deployments-create-open-housing-market
78052 as http://wrvo.orgMon, 21 Sep 2015 07:45:00 +0000Fort Drum deployments create open housing market